The word 'critical" has three meanings which are dangerous, important, and disapproving. The purpose of this blog is to examine important or over-looked cultural, political, artistic, or historical issues of our time. Also, this blog is intended to be educational.

Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Facts About The Vatican

The Vatican City is the smallest country in the world
with the smallest population. It measures 44 hectares ( 110 acres) and has a
population of about 1000 people.

The Vatican has its own Post office and issues its own
stamps. The Vatican mail system is widely used by Romans as in most cases is a
lot quicker than Italian mail.

The Vatican's radio station is located in a tower inside
the Vatican Gardens and broadcasts in 20 languages throughout the world.

The Vatican's railway Station was opened in 1930 and is
mostly used for freight.

Piazza di San Pietro (St Peter's Square) and the
colonnade were designed and built by Bernini (completed in 1667). At 314 meters
long and 240 meters wide it is the largest square in Rome.

Bernini (with the
help of his pupils) designed the 140 statues of saints which decorate the
colonnade.

The Vatican City issues its own passports; the Pope,
cardinals, members of the Swiss guard and clergy being the recipients.

The Vatican City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the
only site to encompass a whole country.

Italians are allowed to donate 8% of their yearly taxes
to the Vatican (this is instead of paying it to the Italian Government).

In 2007 the Vatican opted to become the first Carbon
neutral state by offsetting their carbon footprint with the creation of a
forest in Hungary.

The Vatican stamps its own coins. The €1 coin which has a
portrait of the present Pope is in high demand with collectors.

The Vatican museums are over 9 miles (14,5 kilometers)
long, and it is said that if you spent only 1 minute admiring each painting it
would take you 4 years to complete the circuit!

The Swiss Guards

Established
in 1506 by Pope Julius II the Pontifical Swiss Guard (Vatican guard) were
originally employed as personal bodyguards to the Pope, at present they serve
as the military force of the Vatican.

To
be a Swiss guard one must be: at least 1,74m (5'8.5'') in height, Male,
Catholic, between the ages of 19 and 30, have completed basic training in the
Swiss military, and of course, be Swiss.

The Popes

The
Pope is an elected non-hereditary monarch and has complete judicial, executive
and legislative control over the Vatican State - which means he is at present
the only absolute monarch in Europe.

The
balcony upon which the newly elected Pope stands is called "Loggia of the
Benediction", it is from here that many millions around the world hear the
first blessing "Urbi et Orbi" , to the city and the world.

Is
it true that some Popes have fathered children? Yes, many, too numerous to
mention here! Pope Innocence VIII had eight! It is also rumored that
Christopher Columbus was also the son of the errant Pope. It's thanks to Pope
Innocence that Columbus received the funding for his trip to the new world.

The Possible Female Pope

It
is documented that after Pope Leo came a Pope Joan. John Anglicus, born in
Mainz, was recorded as being pope for two years, seven months and four days. It
is is claimed that John was in fact female.

Joan/John was taken to Athens by a lover of hers and made
to conceal her identity by dressing in men's clothes. Joan was an extremely
bright scholar and rose quickly in society. In Rome she rose quickly among the most learned masters and students and soon she was the choice of everyone for
Pope.

While pope she became pregnant by her companion and it is
said she gave birth during a procession from St Peter's Basilica to the
Lateran, in a narrow lane between the Colosseum and St Clement's church. After
her identity was discovered she was killed and buried in that same place.

Vatican City Facts Since
That Event

Popes
were carried around in a chair with a hole in the bottom, supposedly to allow
cardinals to check for manhood.

From
16th century documentation there is evidence of a bust of Johannes
VIII, femina ex Anglia among a line of papal busts in the Siena
Cathedral.

There
was a statue and shrine on this street of a mother and child, representing the
Popess and her infant. The statue is no longer but the shrine still exists.

Legends
says that a stone slab marked the spot where Joan gave birth and was buried.
However, Pope Pius V had it removed in the late 16th century.

To
this day an illustration of her labor remains in Saint Peter's Basilica at the
foot of the baldacchino, the main altar (over St Peter's tomb).

Unlike
most of the other Popes, no public illustration or painting exists in the
Vatican of Pope Johannes.

Murder in The Vatican

On May 4, 1998, the Swiss
Guard Commander, Alois Estermann, was murdered under unclear circumstances in
the Vatican City. The official Vatican version stated that Estermann and his
wife Gladys Meza Romero were both killed by another Swiss Guard, Cédric Tornay,
who later committed suicide. Estermann had only been named commander of the
Swiss Guard that same day. There is also speculation that there had been a
homosexual affair between Estermann and Tornay.